VOCAB Flashcards
The distance between the crests of a wave
Wavelength
The number of wave cycles to pass a given point per unit of time
Frequency
The SI unit of cycles per second
Hertz
Radio waves, microwaves, infrared waves, visible light, ultraviolet waves, x-rays, and gamma rays
Electromagnetic Radiation
When sunlight passes through a prism, the different wavelengths separate into a ________ of colors.
Spectrum
The pattern formed when light passes through a prism or diffraction grating to separate it into the different frequencies of light that it contains
Atomic Emission Spectrum
The constant (“h”) which has a value of 6.626x10^-34 Jxs. A small energy change involves the emission or absorbtion of low-frequency radiation. A large energy change involves the emission or absorbtion of high-frequency radiation.
Planck’s Constant
The ejection of electrons by certain metals when they absorb light with a frequency above a threshold frequency
Photoelectric Effect
A quantum of light; a discrete bundle of electromagnetic energy that interacts with matter similar to particles.
Photon
The lowest possible energy of an atom described by quantum mechanics. In this state, the principal quantum number (n) is 1.
Ground State
This principle states that it is impossible to know both the velocity and the position of a particle at the same time. This limitation is critical when it comes to dealing with small particles (i.e. Electrons) but is not important when it comes to ordinarily-sized objects (cars, etc)
Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle
IMPORTANT PRINCIPLE
When atoms absorb energy, their electrons move to higher energy levels. These electrons lose energy by emitting light when they return to lower energy levels.
IMPORTANT PRINCIPLE
To explain the photoelectric effect, Einstein proposed that light could be described as a quanta of energy that behave as if they were particles. The energy of photons is quantized as E=hv
IMOORTANT PRINCIPLE
The light emitted by an electron moving from a higher to a lower energy level has a frequency directly proportional to the energy change of the electron.
IMPORTANT PRINCIPLE
Classical mechanics adequately describes the motions of bodies much larger than atoms, while quantum mechanics describes the motions of subatomic particles and atoms as waves.
